The Global EbA Fund Grants 2026 have opened two major funding opportunities for organisations developing innovative approaches to climate adaptation.

Up to:

US$7.5 million

in new funding has been announced through two Calls for Proposals.

Eligible organisations can seek:

Up to US$250,000 under the Small-Size Grants

or:

Up to US$500,000 under the Medium-Size Grants.

Projects under both funding windows can run for up to:

24 months.

The Global Ecosystem-based Adaptation Fund, commonly called the Global EbA Fund, supports innovative and catalytic initiatives that help communities and ecosystems adapt to climate change.

It is implemented by the:

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

and:

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Funding is provided through Germany's:

International Climate Initiative (IKI).

The 2026 calls are open to a broad range of organisations, including NGOs, international NGOs, community-based organisations, Indigenous Peoples' organisations, universities, research institutions, think tanks and eligible private-sector organisations.

The two application windows are different.

Small-Size Grants

Funding: Up to US$250,000

Project Duration: Up to 24 months

Applications Open: 28 September 2026

Deadline: 26 October 2026

Medium-Size Grants

Funding: Up to US$500,000

Project Duration: Up to 24 months

Applications Open: 12 October 2026

Deadline: 16 November 2026

These grants are not designed simply to finance ordinary conservation projects.

The Global EbA Fund is specifically looking for projects capable of overcoming barriers preventing Ecosystem-based Adaptation from being implemented and scaled.

This could involve strengthening knowledge and evidence, developing innovative finance mechanisms, influencing policy, building institutional capacity or creating investment-ready approaches capable of attracting larger climate-finance flows.

What Is the Global EbA Fund?

The Global EbA Fund is an international funding mechanism supporting catalytic, innovative and inclusive projects that create an enabling environment for:

Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

Ecosystem-based Adaptation, or EbA, involves using biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to climate change.

This can involve the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of ecosystems such as:

• Forests
• Wetlands
• Mangroves
• Grasslands
• Coral reefs
• Coastal ecosystems

The objective is not conservation for conservation's sake.

The ecosystem intervention should help reduce people's vulnerability to identifiable climate hazards.

These hazards could include:

• Drought
• Flooding
• Extreme rainfall
• Rising temperatures
• Coastal hazards
• Changing rainfall patterns
• Increasingly variable climatic conditions

A mangrove restoration project, for example, could qualify as EbA where the intervention helps protect vulnerable coastal communities from climate-related hazards.

The Global EbA Fund therefore sits at the intersection of:

Climate adaptation

Biodiversity

Ecosystem restoration

and:

Human resilience.

Global EbA Fund Grants 2026 Key Facts

Item	Details
Fund	Global Ecosystem-based Adaptation Fund
Short Name	Global EbA Fund
Implemented By	IUCN and UNEP
Funding Source	International Climate Initiative (IKI)
Total New Funding Announced	Up to US$7.5 million
Small-Size Grant	Up to US$250,000
Medium-Size Grant	Up to US$500,000
Project Duration	Up to 24 months
Small Grant Opens	28 September 2026
Small Grant Deadline	26 October 2026
Medium Grant Opens	12 October 2026
Medium Grant Deadline	16 November 2026
NGOs	Eligible
INGOs	Eligible
Community-Based Organisations	Eligible
Indigenous Peoples' Organisations	Eligible
Universities	Eligible
Research Institutions	Eligible
Think Tanks	Eligible
Private-Sector Organisations	Eligible under conditions
Government Funding	Direct grants not permitted
Geographic Requirement	Global, thematic or ODA-eligible countries
Application Language	English
Application Method	Online

1. How Much Funding Is Available?

The Global EbA Fund announced:

Up to US$7.5 million

in new grant funding through the two 2026 Calls for Proposals.

Individual applicants can seek different amounts depending on the funding window.

Small-Size Grants

Each successful project can receive:

Up to US$250,000.

Projects can run for:

Up to 24 months.

Medium-Size Grants

Each successful project can receive:

Up to US$500,000.

Projects can also run for:

Up to 24 months.

Applicants should choose the funding window that matches the scale, maturity and objectives of their proposed intervention.

A larger budget does not automatically make a proposal stronger.

The budget needs to be justified by the project's activities, objectives and expected results.

2. Small-Size Global EbA Fund Grants 2026

The Small-Size Grants represent the:

8th Call for Proposals for Small-Size Grants.

The submission period is:

28 September – 26 October 2026.

Each grant can provide:

Up to US$250,000

for a project lasting:

Up to 24 months.

The call focuses on innovative and catalytic proposals capable of addressing systemic barriers preventing EbA from scaling.

Important areas include:

• Institutional capacity
• Technical capacity
• Data
• Evidence generation
• Knowledge exchange
• Learning networks
• Investment readiness

The objective is to create the conditions that allow successful Ecosystem-based Adaptation approaches to expand.

3. Small-Size Grant Priority Areas

The 2026 Small-Size call particularly encourages several types of initiatives.

Investment Readiness and Project Pipelines

Projects can help develop:

Investable and scalable concepts

that are capable of attracting larger climate-finance flows.

This could involve preparing projects to move from early concepts toward investment readiness.

Innovative Technologies for EbA

Applicants can propose approaches that adapt or scale tested technologies within particular socio-ecological systems.

Technology should help practitioners and decision-makers improve or expand EbA.

Applied and Functional Research

Research can be funded where it addresses a specific practical barrier to:

• EbA implementation
• EbA scaling
• EbA investment

This is important.

The Global EbA Fund is not simply financing academic research for its own sake.

Research should contribute to practical solutions.

Synergies With Other EbA and Nature-Based Solutions

Projects can build connections with existing:

• Ecosystem-based Adaptation initiatives
• Nature-based Solutions
• Climate initiatives
• Biodiversity programmes

The objective can include improving operational synergies and expanding co-funding pathways.

4. Small-Size Grants Geographic Priority

The Small-Size call has a particularly important geographic condition.

Its primary focus is on ODA-eligible:

Small Island Developing States — SIDS

and:

Least Developed Countries — LDCs.

However, the call is not completely restricted to these countries.

Applications from other ODA-eligible countries may still be considered where the proposal demonstrates:

Exceptional ambition

and:

Unique opportunities to scale EbA.

This distinction matters for applicants outside the SIDS and LDC categories.

They need to make an especially strong case for why their project represents an exceptional scaling opportunity.

5. Medium-Size Global EbA Fund Grants 2026

The Medium-Size Grants provide the larger funding opportunity.

Successful projects can receive:

Up to US$500,000.

The submission window is:

12 October – 16 November 2026.

Projects can run for:

Up to 24 months.

The Medium-Size call focuses on:

Strategic Scaling and Global Influence.

The Global EbA Fund wants collaborative and innovative approaches capable of addressing systemic barriers to scaling Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

Projects can also contribute to:

• Global learning
• Policy dialogue
• Enabling environments
• National frameworks
• Climate priorities
• Biodiversity priorities
• Land priorities
• Development priorities

The objective is broader systemic change.

6. Medium-Size Grant Priority: Innovative Finance for EbA

One of the most important priority areas is:

Innovative Finance Solutions for EbA.

Climate adaptation faces a substantial financing gap.

Many useful nature-based solutions struggle to move beyond small projects because they cannot attract enough investment.

The Fund therefore wants innovative partnerships involving actors such as:

• Private-sector companies
• Financiers
• Adaptation practitioners
• Innovators
• Local champions

Projects could explore ways to unlock:

Private capital

and:

Blended finance

for Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

This could involve developing scalable business models that make conservation and adaptation financially viable while still delivering public benefits.

7. Medium-Size Grant Priority: EbA for Human Development and Security

Another important theme is:

EbA for Human Development and Security.

Climate change can increase pressure on:

• Land
• Water
• Food systems
• Livelihoods
• Natural resources

These pressures can become particularly serious in fragile and conflict-affected areas.

The Global EbA Fund therefore encourages projects that connect:

Climate resilience

with:

Human security.

Projects can identify and address:

• Policy barriers
• Regulatory barriers
• Financial barriers
• Awareness barriers

that prevent EbA investment in high-risk areas.

The Fund encourages community-designed and conflict-sensitive approaches.

Projects should demonstrate how removing these barriers could help reduce climate-related vulnerability and natural-resource tensions.

8. Medium-Size Grant Priority: Connecting Climate, Biodiversity and Land

The Medium-Size call also encourages stronger connections between:

Climate

Biodiversity

and:

Land.

These environmental challenges are closely linked.

Climate change can contribute to ecosystem degradation.

Degraded ecosystems can increase climate vulnerability.

Land degradation can undermine livelihoods and resilience.

EbA can therefore provide a practical mechanism for addressing several objectives simultaneously.

The 2026 call encourages projects capable of strengthening synergies across these agendas and generating evidence that can influence future policy.

9. Who Can Apply for Global EbA Fund Grants?

The 2026 calls are open to a broad range of organisations.

Eligible applicants include:

1. Non-governmental organisations
2. International non-governmental organisations
3. Intergovernmental organisations
4. Community-based organisations
5. Indigenous Peoples' organisations
6. Universities and academic institutions
7. Research institutes
8. Think tanks
9. Private-sector companies
10. Consortia of eligible organisations

Applicants must still satisfy all other eligibility and due-diligence requirements.

10. Can NGOs Apply?

Yes.

Both national and international NGOs are among the eligible organisation types.

However, an NGO still needs to demonstrate relevant:

• EbA expertise
• Climate-adaptation experience
• Local grounding
• Organisational capacity
• Financial capacity

The proposed project must also meet the Fund's specific eligibility requirements.

Being a registered NGO alone is not sufficient.

11. Can Universities Apply?

Yes.

Universities and other academic institutions can apply.

Research institutions and think tanks are also eligible.

However, the project should not simply be an isolated academic research exercise.

The Global EbA Fund expects projects to address practical barriers preventing EbA implementation or scaling.

Applied research should therefore contribute to tangible adaptation outcomes or enabling conditions.

12. Can Community-Based Organisations Apply?

Yes.

Community-based organisations are explicitly included among eligible applicants.

This aligns with the Fund's emphasis on:

• Locally led adaptation
• Local ownership
• Community participation
• Indigenous knowledge

Applicants should demonstrate meaningful involvement of the communities affected by the proposed intervention.

13. Can Indigenous Peoples' Organisations Apply?

Yes.

Indigenous Peoples' organisations are explicitly eligible.

The Global EbA Fund also expects proposals to respect:

Indigenous Peoples' rights

and incorporate relevant:

Indigenous knowledge.

Projects should not treat Indigenous Peoples merely as beneficiaries.

Meaningful participation and equitable benefit-sharing should form part of project design where relevant.

14. Can Private Companies Apply?

Yes, under certain conditions.

Private-sector companies are included among eligible applicants.

However, the funding cannot be used simply to finance ordinary:

For-profit activities.

It also cannot finance:

• Sector-specific obligations
• Compensatory measures
• Replacement measures

The broader:

Common public interest

must remain a priority.

A private-sector proposal therefore needs a strong climate-adaptation and public-benefit case.

15. Can Governments Apply?

The Global EbA Fund does not provide grants directly to government partners.

Government entities cannot directly receive Global EbA Fund financing.

Sub-granting Fund resources to governments is also prohibited.

However, governments can still participate.

Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with:

• National governments
• State or provincial governments
• Local governments

particularly where government involvement can create an enabling environment for EbA or strengthen strategic partnerships.

Government organisations can also participate within a consortium provided they do not receive Global EbA Fund money.

16. Can IUCN or UNEP Apply?

No.

IUCN and UNEP offices are currently not eligible to apply for Global EbA Fund financing.

This reflects their role in implementing and managing the Fund.

17. Geographic Eligibility

Projects should be:

Global

Thematic

or target:

ODA-eligible countries.

This is an important eligibility requirement.

Applicants planning country-specific projects should verify that the proposed beneficiary country meets the Fund's current geographic requirements.

The Small-Size call gives particular priority to:

ODA-eligible SIDS and LDCs.

Other ODA-eligible countries may still be considered under that window where projects demonstrate exceptional ambition and scaling potential.

18. Can Nigerian Organisations Apply?

Potentially, yes.

Nigeria is an ODA-eligible country.

This makes Nigerian organisations potentially eligible under the Fund's geographic framework, provided they satisfy all other requirements.

However, there is an important difference between the two 2026 windows.

For the:

Small-Size Grants

the primary geographic emphasis is on ODA-eligible SIDS and LDCs.

Nigeria is not a Small Island Developing State and is not classified as a Least Developed Country.

Therefore, a Nigerian Small-Size proposal would need to make a particularly compelling case around:

Exceptional ambition

and:

Unique opportunities to scale EbA.

The:

Medium-Size Grant

does not impose the same SIDS/LDC primary-focus wording on its current eligibility page.

For Nigerian organisations capable of developing a larger systemic EbA initiative, the Medium-Size window may therefore warrant particularly close examination.

This does not guarantee eligibility or selection.

All project, partnership, due-diligence and evaluation requirements still apply.

19. What Makes a Project Eligible?

A proposal must qualify as:

Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

It should also have:

Catalytic

and:

Innovative

potential.

The project needs to clearly identify the climate impacts it intends to address.

It must then explain how the proposed intervention will help address those impacts.

The project can fall under a maximum of:

One Strategic Objective

and:

Two Action Pillars

of the Global EbA Fund.

20. Projects Must Build on Existing Work

This requirement is particularly important.

The Fund states that projects must be:

Built or based on existing work.

Global EbA Fund projects should not simply be completely isolated standalone interventions.

Instead, projects can:

• Address gaps in existing work
• Address knowledge gaps
• Strengthen existing initiatives
• Support policy upscaling
• Increase the impact of existing investments
• Develop larger proposals for other funding mechanisms

Applicants should therefore explain:

What already exists?

What is missing?

How will this project fill that gap?

What happens after Global EbA Fund financing ends?

21. Local Partnerships Are Required

Projects must partner with:

Local institutions and organisations.

This requirement applies even where the lead applicant is an international organisation.

A lead organisation does not necessarily have to be headquartered in the beneficiary country.

However, where it is based elsewhere, it should demonstrate:

• Working experience in the project country
• EbA experience or expertise
• Appropriate local partnerships

This helps ensure projects are grounded in local realities rather than designed entirely from outside the target community.

22. Climate Risk Must Be Clearly Defined

A proposal should not simply say:

"Climate change is affecting our community."

The Fund expects applicants to identify the specific:

Climate hazards

and:

Climate risks

the project will address.

For example:

• Increasing drought
• Flooding
• Coastal erosion
• Extreme rainfall
• Rising temperatures
• Changing rainfall patterns

The project should then demonstrate how its EbA approach reduces vulnerability or increases resilience.

This connection between:

Climate risk → Ecosystem intervention → Reduced vulnerability

is fundamental.

23. What Is the Adaptation Impact Chain?

The Small-Size call particularly emphasises a:

Clear adaptation chain.

The project should identify:

• Climate hazards
• Climate risks
• Socioeconomic sensitivity
• Ecological sensitivity
• Ecosystem services
• Adaptive capacity
• Vulnerability

The proposed intervention should then show how it reduces overall climate risk while generating benefits for:

People

and:

Nature.

Simply planting trees, for example, does not automatically qualify as Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

Applicants need to demonstrate how the intervention addresses a specific climate risk affecting human communities.

24. Gender and Social Inclusion Requirements

Projects should integrate:

Gender responsiveness.

Applicants should consider how climate risks affect different groups.

They should also address:

• Local participation
• Indigenous Peoples' rights
• Equitable benefit-sharing
• Environmental safeguards
• Social safeguards

Projects should avoid:

Maladaptation.

Maladaptation occurs when an intervention unintentionally increases climate vulnerability or creates new risks.

25. Sustainability and Exit Strategy

Applicants should demonstrate how project results will continue after Global EbA Fund financing ends.

This could involve:

• Local ownership
• Institutional adoption
• Policy integration
• Sustainable financing
• Government uptake
• Private investment
• Community management
• Follow-on climate finance

The proposal should not assume that the Global EbA Fund will continue financing the project indefinitely.

A strong project should create conditions for its results to continue or scale.

26. Monitoring and Indicators

Monitoring and evaluation are important components of the application.

Applicants need to develop a logical framework with:

SMART indicators.

For Medium-Size Grants, applicants must select at least:

Three relevant indicators

from the Global EbA Fund's Core Indicator Framework and incorporate them into the project's logical framework.

Indicators should be connected to:

• Outputs
• Data sources
• Reporting intervals

This means applicants should begin thinking about measurement during project design.

27. Medium-Size Grant Evaluation

The Medium-Size Grants use a formal evaluation framework.

One particularly important criterion is:

Ecosystem-based Adaptation — 40%.

Evaluators examine the extent to which the project genuinely takes an EbA approach and demonstrates how it will reduce climate vulnerability or improve community resilience.

Applicants should therefore avoid treating the EbA element as a minor environmental component.

It is central to the proposal.

Other evaluation considerations include:

• Design
• Methodology
• Theory of Change
• Logical framework
• SMART indicators
• Timeline
• Budget coherence
• Innovation
• Scalability

28. Required Application Documents

Applicants for both funding windows should prepare several documents.

These include:

Applicant Declaration

Co-applicant Mandate

Application Form

Project Proposal Budget Template

and:

Due Diligence and Financial Capacity Questionnaire.

At the submission stage, applicants are instructed to complete the questionnaire and submit the specified required annexes.

The exact application form differs between:

Small-Size Grants

and:

Medium-Size Grants.

Applicants should therefore download the correct package.

29. Due Diligence Requirements

The lead applicant must satisfy the Global EbA Fund's:

Due Diligence requirements.

The organisation should be prepared to demonstrate that it is a legally recognised entity with sufficient capacity to manage the proposed grant.

Applicants should carefully review the:

Grants Procedure Manual

before developing their proposal.

This can prevent organisations from spending significant time on a proposal that fails a fundamental eligibility requirement.

30. Application Language

Applications must be submitted in:

English.

Where official organisational documents or registration records are not in English, they must be:

Translated into English.

International applicants should factor translation into their preparation schedule.

31. How to Apply for Global EbA Fund Small-Size Grants

The process begins before the portal opens.

Step 1: Read the Call for Proposals

Review the complete Small-Size Call for Proposals.

Step 2: Read the Grants Procedure Manual

Confirm organisational and project eligibility.

Step 3: Download the Application Package

Prepare the application using the offline forms.

The Fund strongly encourages applicants to work on the application offline before submitting it online.

Step 4: Develop Your EbA Impact Chain

Clearly establish:

Climate risk → Vulnerability → EbA intervention → Adaptation outcome.

Step 5: Confirm Local Partners

Projects must involve local institutions and organisations.

Step 6: Develop the Budget

The total request must not exceed:

US$250,000.

Step 7: Complete Due Diligence Documentation

Prepare the required financial and organisational information.

Step 8: Submit Online

The submission portal opens:

28 September 2026.

The deadline is:

26 October 2026.

All applications must be submitted through the online platform.

32. How to Apply for Global EbA Fund Medium-Size Grants

The process is similar but uses the Medium-Size application package.

Step 1: Review the Medium-Size Call

Understand its strategic-scaling objectives.

Step 2: Confirm Eligibility

Review the Grants Procedure Manual and eligibility checklist.

Step 3: Choose the Appropriate Strategic Approach

Determine whether the proposal addresses systemic EbA barriers and whether it aligns with relevant priority themes.

Step 4: Build Strong Partnerships

Include local organisations and relevant stakeholders.

Step 5: Develop the Theory of Change

Show how project activities lead to measurable systemic change and climate-adaptation outcomes.

Step 6: Select Indicators

Include at least three relevant indicators from the Core Indicator Framework.

Step 7: Prepare the Budget

The request must not exceed:

US$500,000.

Step 8: Prepare Due Diligence Documents

Complete the required organisational and financial information.

Step 9: Submit Through the Online Portal

Applications open:

12 October 2026.

The deadline is:

16 November 2026.

33. Global EbA Fund Informative Webinars

The Global EbA Fund has also announced informative webinars for prospective applicants.

The webinars are intended to:

• Introduce the Fund
• Explain the two new Calls for Proposals
• Explain eligibility
• Explain application requirements
• Demonstrate the online application process
• Answer applicant questions

Prospective applicants should strongly consider attending.

The webinars can help clarify technical questions before significant resources are invested in proposal development.

Is the Global EbA Fund 2026 Currently Open?

The two Calls for Proposals have officially been:

Launched.

However, their online submission windows open on different dates.

As of 18 September 2026:

Small-Size Grants

Call launched: Yes

Online applications open: 28 September 2026

Deadline: 26 October 2026

Maximum funding: US$250,000

Medium-Size Grants

Call launched: Yes

Online applications open: 12 October 2026

Deadline: 16 November 2026

Maximum funding: US$500,000

Therefore, organisations can already begin:

• Reviewing the calls
• Downloading documents
• Building partnerships
• Preparing budgets
• Developing proposals
• Completing due diligence materials

They should then submit once the relevant online portal opens.

34. Which Funding Window Should You Choose?

The answer depends on the project.

Small-Size	Medium-Size
Up to $250,000	Up to $500,000
Maximum 24 months	Maximum 24 months
8th Small-Size Call	First Medium-Size Call
Strong emphasis on catalytic interventions	Strong emphasis on strategic scaling
Priority on SIDS and LDCs	Broader systemic scaling focus
Knowledge, evidence and investment readiness	Finance, policy and systemic influence
Opens 28 September	Opens 12 October
Closes 26 October	Closes 16 November

Applicants should choose based on the nature of the intervention rather than simply pursuing the larger amount.

35. Practical Advice for Nigerian Applicants

Nigerian organisations should pay particular attention to the geographic distinction between the two windows.

For Small-Size Grants, Nigeria does not fall within the call's primary SIDS/LDC focus.

A Nigerian proposal should therefore demonstrate an especially strong:

Scaling opportunity.

For either window, avoid proposing a completely new standalone conservation activity.

Instead, identify existing work.

Then identify a specific barrier preventing that work from:

• Scaling
• Influencing policy
• Attracting investment
• Generating evidence
• Building institutional capacity

The proposal should explain exactly how Global EbA Fund financing removes that barrier.

A Nigerian project could potentially address challenges involving:

• Flood resilience
• Coastal ecosystems
• Mangrove systems
• Drought resilience
• Land degradation
• Climate-smart ecosystem management
• Watershed resilience
• Agricultural landscapes

However, every proposal must demonstrate a genuine Ecosystem-based Adaptation pathway.

The strongest question to answer is:

How does restoring, conserving or sustainably managing this ecosystem measurably reduce climate vulnerability for people?

Global EbA Fund Grants 2026 Summary

Category	Small-Size	Medium-Size
Maximum Grant	$250,000	$500,000
Maximum Duration	24 months	24 months
Applications Open	28 Sept. 2026	12 Oct. 2026
Deadline	26 Oct. 2026	16 Nov. 2026
NGOs	Eligible	Eligible
CBOs	Eligible	Eligible
Indigenous Organisations	Eligible	Eligible
Universities	Eligible	Eligible
Research Institutions	Eligible	Eligible
Private Sector	Conditional	Conditional
Governments	Cannot receive funding	Cannot receive funding
Local Partnership	Required	Required
ODA-Eligible Countries	Yes	Yes
SIDS/LDC Priority	Yes	Not stated as same primary priority
Application Language	English	English
Online Submission	Required	Required

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Global EbA Fund?

The Global EbA Fund finances catalytic and innovative projects that create enabling conditions for scaling Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

Who manages the Fund?

The Fund is implemented by:

IUCN

and:

UN Environment Programme.

Who funds the Global EbA Fund?

It is financed through Germany's:

International Climate Initiative.

How much new funding is available in 2026?

The Global EbA Fund announced up to:

US$7.5 million

through the two new Calls for Proposals.

How much is the Small-Size Grant?

Up to:

US$250,000 per project.

How much is the Medium-Size Grant?

Up to:

US$500,000 per project.

How long can projects run?

Both grant categories support projects lasting up to:

24 months.

When do Small-Size applications open?

28 September 2026.

What is the Small-Size deadline?

26 October 2026.

When do Medium-Size applications open?

12 October 2026.

What is the Medium-Size deadline?

16 November 2026.

Can NGOs apply?

Yes.

National and international NGOs are eligible.

Can Nigerian NGOs apply?

Potentially, yes.

Nigeria is ODA-eligible.

However, the Small-Size call primarily focuses on ODA-eligible SIDS and LDCs, meaning Nigerian proposals need to demonstrate exceptional ambition and scaling opportunities.

Can community-based organisations apply?

Yes.

CBOs are explicitly eligible.

Can universities apply?

Yes.

Universities and other academic institutions are eligible.

Can research institutions apply?

Yes.

Research institutes and think tanks are eligible.

Can private companies apply?

Yes, under specific conditions.

Funding cannot simply finance ordinary for-profit activities or sector-specific obligations.

Can governments apply?

Governments cannot receive Global EbA Fund financing directly.

They can participate as project partners or beneficiaries provided they do not receive Fund resources.

Can a consortium apply?

Yes.

The consortium must clearly identify a lead applicant that will become the responsible contracting organisation if successful.

Does the lead organisation need to be based in the project country?

Not necessarily.

However, an external lead applicant should have relevant experience in the country and work with appropriate local partners.

Do projects need local partners?

Yes.

Projects must partner with local institutions and organisations.

Can I submit a completely new standalone project?

The Fund states that projects should not be standalone interventions.

They should build on existing work, knowledge, partnerships or investments and address an identifiable gap or scaling barrier.

Can academic research receive funding?

Potentially.

However, research should be applied and functional, addressing practical barriers to EbA implementation, scaling or investment.

What language must applications use?

English.

Relevant official organisational documents that are not in English must be translated.

Where do I apply?

Applications must be submitted through the official Global EbA Fund online platform once the respective submission window opens.

Final Takeaway

The Global EbA Fund Grants 2026 represent a significant funding opportunity for organisations working at the intersection of:

Climate adaptation

Nature

Biodiversity

and:

Community resilience.

Up to:

US$7.5 million

in new funding has been announced.

Organisations have two funding windows.

The Small-Size Grants provide:

Up to US$250,000

for projects lasting up to:

24 months.

Applications can be submitted from:

28 September to 26 October 2026.

The Medium-Size Grants provide:

Up to US$500,000

for projects lasting up to:

24 months.

Applications can be submitted from:

12 October to 16 November 2026.

Eligible organisations include NGOs, INGOs, community-based organisations, Indigenous Peoples' organisations, universities, research institutions, think tanks, eligible private companies and consortia.

But this is not simply a general environmental grant.

The proposed project must genuinely qualify as:

Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

It should identify a specific climate risk.

It should demonstrate how biodiversity or ecosystem services can help reduce people's vulnerability to that risk.

And it should address a barrier preventing effective EbA approaches from reaching greater scale.

The Fund is particularly interested in projects capable of strengthening:

• Knowledge and evidence
• Institutional capacity
• Policy uptake
• Investment readiness
• Innovative climate finance
• Local capacity
• Global learning

For Nigerian organisations, participation is potentially possible because Nigeria is ODA-eligible.

However, applicants should pay close attention to the difference between the two windows.

The Small-Size call places its primary geographic emphasis on ODA-eligible SIDS and LDCs.

Other ODA-eligible countries can still be considered where the proposal demonstrates exceptional ambition and a unique opportunity to scale EbA.

The Medium-Size window offers up to $500,000 and focuses more broadly on systemic change, innovative finance, human development and security, policy influence and strategic scaling.

Most importantly, applicants should start preparing before the portals open.

Read the Grants Procedure Manual.

Download the correct application package.

Identify credible local partners.

Define the climate risk.

Develop the adaptation impact chain.

Prepare the Theory of Change.

Build a realistic budget.

Prepare due diligence documents.

And clearly demonstrate how the project builds on existing work rather than operating as an isolated intervention.

With the Small-Size portal opening on 28 September 2026 and the Medium-Size portal opening on 12 October 2026, the preparation period has already begun.